Safety hat



Feb. 25, 1947. H, B, LEWIS 2,416,529

SAFETY HAT Filed March 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [N VEN 1-0/2, Han A eo dLen xs I/MEEISAIECILAFOST B/MRB/J FOL THE FIRM A TTOB NE Yd Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY HAT Howard B. Lewis, Venice, Calif. v Application March 22, 1943, Serial No. 479,978

9 Claims. (01. 2-3) My invention relates to a safety hat of the type that may be worn by workers in various fields of work, such as the construction of tunnels, buildings, oil well derricks, mines, etc., to protect the head of the wearer from falling objects.

Among the objects of my invention are the provision of such a' safety hat which will absorb a part of the force of impact of objects striking the hat and dissipatethe remainder of such force by applying it over broad areas of the head of the wearer, to provide such a hat which will maintain the impact-resisting shell or' Outer hat-like member in spaced relationship with the head of the wearer, permitting the free circulation of air between the shell and the headgear at all times, to provide such a hat which shall include an outer deformationresisting hat-like member having Within it headengaging means which are connected'thereto and conformable to the outline, of the head .of the wearer independently of theform of the shellf to' provide in such'a hat a head-engaging means including adjusting means, whereby the extent to which the head engaging such 'means procomplishing the foregoing objects and providin these advantages and others are described in the following specificationjwhich 'may be .better understood with reference to'the accompanying drawingsin wliich Fig. 1 is a side elva'tionalyiew of one embodi-.

ment of my invention 7 l Fig. '2 is a vertical" sectional view taken as indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig .l;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan vle'w ofjthe same embodimentp j Fig; 4 is a perspective view of the eyemember or connecting nieansfof the same embodiment;' ,Figdis a longitudinal sectional view of the eye memb'er'or connectingmeansfof Fig. 4 at-.

tachedto the hat;

indicated by the line 6-5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of an alternative embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken as indicate by the line 8-8 of Fig. '7; and r Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the eye member or connecting means of the embodiment illustratedinFigs'land 8.

Referring to the drawingswhich are for illustrative purposes on1y,the numeral ll indicates. an outer shell or impact-resisting member or hat-like member, which maybe substantially semi-spherical in shapebut is preferably semi-- ellipsoidal and which is preferably, though not. necessarily,a.provided withan outwardly flared brim I 2 at its lower periphery. I

v The hat-like member: I! is made' of any material having .thedesired characteristics of re- 'sistance to impact and Weight. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to;6 -;inclusive, the material, cpmprisingthe hat-like.member II, as is best illustrated in Fig. 5, includes a layer of fabric or woven material l3impregnated with and covered on both ofv its sides withaplastic M, the fabric and plastic being molded or pressed into the desired shape in' any of the manners well known for the forming of such plastic articles.

Formedin the lower portion of the hat-like} member II or inthe brim I2 is a plurality, illu'strated as six in number, of: pairs ofuopenings- I5. The numeral It indicates a connecting member or eye member, which is best illustrated in 'Fig. 4. The eye member I5, includes a U- shapedbod'y'l'l comprising leg portions I8 and a connecting portionlilrbetween them. Formed upon one side of the body-portion I 1 adjacenteach of the intersections of the leg portions I and the-connecting portion I9 is a supportingv button 20, illustratedas cylindrical in farmland.

madeintegral with the eye mem'b'er l 6.,,jAd-i jacent the free end of each of the leg portions. 18, the; eye member i5 is provided witl'i sup porting portions 2|, projecting from the same, side of the body portion l1 andillu'stratedas cylindrical in form and" integral with the eyq member'lfi. H a Projecting from eachojf the supporting portions 2| is a pin-22. illustrated as cylindrical in form coaxial with the adjacent supporting portion 2| and integral therewith. The eye member 16 may be formedof any suitable "material having the desired characteristics of tensile strength and light weight. f Inf the embodiment illustrated in Figs].

1 to6, in clus ive, theeye member l6 isformed of a suitable plastic, either by molding or casting in any of the manners well known for such processing of plastics. V

The pins 22 are made of such dimensions as to project through the openings in the hat-like member H sufficiently that they may be riveted or peened over to provide a head 23 engaging the outer surface of the hat-like member II. The

supporting, buttons and the.- supporting, porr tions 2| are made of athicknesszsufiicient to keep;

the body I! spaced from the hat-like member H to permit the passage of a strap or connecting member of a head-engaging-means, to be late described, to pass therebetween.

The numeral 24 indicates theuheadl-engagin a 1 means of the hat of my invention and. is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Theehea'd'engaging;

means 24 includes a securing member 25, a plu.-- rality of straps or connectin members 26, aheadband 21, and engaging members. The strap members 26, illustrated as six" in number, are

formed of any desirable-flexible material of suf fi'cient tensile strength, andpreferably one hav-' ing a slight elongation when subjected to ton sion; Ihavefound'that soft'cott'on fabricis well suited for this purpose, and; when such material is employed, I" prefer to double it, passing the two, fre'e'ends between the hat=like member ll andthe connecting portion IQ of oneof'the eye members f6; so that' the folded upperend of each" of the strap'members 26provides an opening or locpfl'Gb':

One of the engaging" membersZB is positioned adjacent thelower endof each of the 'strap members 26, and positioned adjacent the inner side of thelower ends of the strap members 26'is an outer fold'29of the head-band 27'. Theh'ead-band 211s i formed of leather or similar material and, as illustrat'ed" in the-'- drawings, is folded upon' itself tov provide an upwardlyext'endi'ng inner fold30 with a reinforcing band" 31 positioned between the outerand inner folds29'and The reinforcing band 3| isforme'd'ofany material having the'desired characteristics of're'sistance to heat, moisture; tensile and binding stresses and may with advantage be formed'of composition, fibre-board,

imitation leather, or the like.

The reinforcing band 3lmay be secured to" the outer -fold. 29, if desired; as by a rotary stitCh- Y 1ng'32 adjacent-the upper edge of the-outer fold The reinforcingban'd 31 extend'sthroughout the length of the head-band 21', and th' 'en'ds'" of the head-band 21' and reinforcing band 3i" overlap in telesco pin g rel ationship.

Extending through thereinforcing bandtljf the outer fold'29 of the head-bandfl; the lower ends of one of' the strap members 26, and the" lowerend of one of the engagin 'members' 23 1sa: fastening'm'ember' 3-3, which may be a brad or'a rivet; The inner ends of'thebrads or'rivets I are prevented from causing any discomfortto: the wearerby the cushioning-effectof'the inner 7 Each of the engaging mernl'aers 28v is-(provided with; a. slot 3.4: therein above, its" connection .to the fastening member-"$3; each member 28 thus-being" in the form of'a' loop or'* plate having; a; strapreceiving slot 34 and the associated strap member 26' isextendedfthrough theopeningfi' l after and above its passage between theconnectingportion member I !.,-1as.illustrat'ed inli'i'g. 2;

Extending through the loops 2 5b in. the .upper L ends-oi. the strap, members-26,3 a securing mem-' ber 25;; preferabl'yiri. tbefform ofi a woven llace y The strap members 26' aremade of such-'Iengths"*' 4 that their upper ends are at some distancefrom each other, with the result that the securing member 25, extending through their loops 262) will roughly approximate a circle when the device is positioned upon the head of a wearer, the member 25 also constituting head-engaging means and the size of this circle being readily varied by adjusting and tying the ends of the securing member. 25 in aiknot 35.

Extending, through both; the; outer: and inner folds 29 and 3B of the head-band 21 and the reiniiorcing band 3| adjacent both of their ends are a plurality. of openings 36, illustrated as equally spaced.

Avconnecting means in the form of a lace 31 is provided for extension through pairs of coincidiizigopeningsv tom the two ends of the headband.21. and reinforcing band 3|, so that, when the'en'd's of the lace 3'! are tied together on the outer side of the head-band 21, the head-band 21 is maintained at" the desired circumferential length; With the head-engaging-meansi l assembled and securedt'o the hat-like member I I,

n the hat-like member IV a lesser distanceat the" sides of the head thanfatthefront andrear of: thehead.

It is desirable that the hat-likemember H be: prevented; from rotating! relative to: the: head-- ill engaging means 24' an'd alsox that the connection ofsomeofthe'strap members:26 to thelhat-like; member H be movable circumferentially in order: to vary the circumference" of" the head-bandit In accordance'with' myinvention these desirable I attributesfare providedbyimakingrthe connecting portions 1'9 ofthe eye members; I16 Ofi-VBJIiO'LlSi' lengths, Thus, the two eyes. members I5 posit-.- tier-red at the front" of -the hat-likememb'er: l:l:. and" indicated by the numeral r38-r are: provided; with connecting portions H)? of: a: length substarrstlally equal to the Widthi of" the: strap: members; z fi with Which they-are to hei associated. Thea eye members I 6i positioned at: the: sides: of; the: hat-like member! and cindicated by-the numeral-E;

" 39 are" provided; withiconnecting portions l of;

a length substantially"greater'than, andQinthis, illustrated embodiment approximatelyoneranda half times; the width ofithei strap membersifi with which: they are: to: be: associated; Theeye; members? lliconnected at, the back. of the, hat--- like-rmember ll and-indicatediby the numeral-41h are fprovidedzwith connectingportions; I illsubstan T tially wider than, 'and'in this illustrated embodi mentzapproximatelytwice thewidth of the strap members 26 with which they-alrelto,be;associated The distances; between. the openings I5r of.. the

airs of such openings re cjeivingjtheseyelmembers,

3e, :39, and 4!).: are. correspondingly spaced;

To facilitate adjustment of the size of theheadpandering openings 3 therein may, be spaced apart uniformly distances corresponding to a change inhat' size of one-eighth;

As is best, illustrated in. Fig; 2;. the connecting; portions 19 of the" eye members l.6;' 'b which, the. force of the impact of an object striking the hatlike member I I is transferred to the head-engaging means 24, are supported at their inner edges by the buttons 20 in engagement with the hat-like member I I and adjacent their outer edges by the Supporting portions 2| likewise contacting the hat-like member II, so that the stress to which these'connecting portions I 9 are subjected is primarily tension, as contrasted with a bending moment, so that various plastic materials may be employed for the manufacture of the eye members. I a

By varying the effective length of the securing member 25, thedistance between the upper ends of the strap members 26 may be readily varied, so that the vertical distance between the top' of the hat-like member II and the securing member 25 may be readily adjusted, and thus the extent to which the head of the wearer projects into the hat-like member I I may be easily varied.

"The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive, diifers from the embodiment previously described in that the hat-like member II is formed of metal instead of fabric and plastic, being provided with a rolled edge 4| to prevent damage to objects or injuries to persons which it may contact, and in that the construction of the eye members indicated by the numeral IE0: is substantially U-shaped, including leg portions Illa and a connecting portion IIIa extending between them; each of the leg portions IBa is inclined upwardly at its free end, as indicated by thenumeral 42 of Fig. 9, and this upwardly inclined portion is flattened on its upper andlower surfaces, as indicated by the numeral 43 of the same figure.

When the upper flattened surface is spot welded to the brim I2a of the hat-like member Ila, the connecting portions I9a of the eye members I6a are spaced from the brim I2a sufficiently to permit the passage of the strap members 26 therebetween. The connecting portions I9a of the eye members Ilia at the front and on the sides and at the back of the hat-like member Ila vary in length in the same way and for the same purposes as the connecting portions I9 of the eye members I6 as previously described.

In both embodiments of my invention the securing member 25 and the upper ends of the strap members 26 are supported by the wearer's head, and the lower end of each strap member being connected to the head-band is also supported by the wearer's head. The hat-like member is hung on and supported by the loops in the strap members formed intermediate their ends and thus supported by the wearer's head while spaced from it at all points. Any impact upon the outer hat-like member is distributed over broad areas of the wearer's head through the securing member 25, the strap members 26, and the head-band 21.

Likewise in both embodiments of my invention hereinbefore described it will be seen that the size of the head-band may be readily varied between wide limits to accommodate different sizes of heads, and the rotation of the hat-like member relative to the head-engaging means and headband is prevented. Likewise the head-engaging means may be easily and quickly adjusted to vary the distance to which the head of the wearer projects into the hat-like member,

While the embodiments of my invention which I have illustrated and described accomplish the objects and provide the advantages primarily stated, there are various other embodiments of my invention which may likewise accomplish these objects and provide such advantages, and! therefore wish my invention to be considered as not restricted'to the specific embodiments herein described but as including all variations thereof coming within the scope of the claims-which 1 follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a head-protecting device, the combination of: a shell member; head-engaging means within and spaced from said member; a plurality of eye members associated with said shell member; and a plurality of flexible straps connecting said means and said eye members, corresponding strap and eye members being so relatively dimensioned that said means is so connected to said shell member at at least one of said eye members as'to prevent its circumferential movement relative-to said shell member, the connection between-the other straps and ey members providing for adjustment of said head-engaging means relative to said shell member whereby the circumferential size of said head-engaging means may be varied;

2. In a head-protecting device, the combination of: an outer hat-like member; head-engaging means within and spaced from said hat-like member; a head-band within and spaced from said member; a plurality of flexible members, each of said flexible members being connected at one end to said head-engaging means and'at the other end to said head-band; and a plurality of eye members attached to said hat-like member, certain of said eye members being relatively elongated and slidably connected to certain of said flexible members for movement of said certain flexible members circumferentially of said hat-like member, whereby the circumferential size of said head-band may be varied, and others of said eye members being non-slidably connected to other flexible members to prevent movement circumferentially of said hat-like member. 3. In a head-protecting device, the combination of: a hat-like member; eye members associated with said hat-like member adjacent its lower edge; a plurality of strap members, the upper end of each of which is provided with an opening and the lower end of each of which is passed through one of said eye members; an engaging member secured to the lower end of each of said strap members and engaging a portion of the same strap member above the associated eye member, whereby each strap member is secured to one eye member, the circumferential dimensions of less than all of said associated strap and eye members being such that relative circumferential movement may occur; a securing member extending through the openings in the upper ends of said strap members; and connecting means secured .to said engaging members, said band,

and said strap members,',whereby said hat-like member is maintained in spaced relation with the head.

4. In combination in a head gear: head-engaging means including a head-band; a plurality of connecting members connected with said headband and adapted to connect said head-band with a hat-like member; attaching means movably connected with certain of said connecting members and adapted for adjustably attaching said certain connecting members with said hatlike member whereby said certain members may move circumferentially of said hat-like member; and other attaching means connected with other of said connecting members in non-adjustable relationshi preventing movement of said other '0: said connecting members circumferentially of the head-band is adjustable for head size, and

certain of said attaching means provide more adjustment of their respective connecting means than certain others thereof.

6. In combination in a head gear: adjustable head-engaging means; a plurality of connecting members attached to said head-engaging means and adapted for connection also with a hat-like shell; and attaching means for attaching said connecting members'to said hat-like shell, said attaching means comprising eye members, there being an eye member for each connecting member, certain of said eye members being relatively elongated for slidably connecting said connecting members with said shell for corresponding movement of corresponding connecting members circumferentially of said shell, and other eye members being dimensioned to prevent slidable movement of corresponding connecting members circumferentially of said shell.

7.. In a head-protecting device, the combination of: a shell member; circumferentially adjustable head-engaging means withinand spaced from said member; means connecting said head-engaging means to said shell member and against relative rotation with respect to said shell member; a plurality of eye members associated with said shell member; and a plurality of eye-engagsuch eye means, at least one of'said connecting members being so dimensioned relative to its connected eye means as to prevent relative circum ferential movement of the head gear and said head-band, and others of said connecting members being so dimensioned relative to their connected eye means as to permit relative circumferential movement of the head gear and portions of said head-band whereby the circumferential size of said head-engaging means may be varied while rotation of such head gear relative to said head-band is prevented.

, 9. In combination with head-engaging means including a head-band adjustable as to size and a plurality of connecting members: a shell-like hat member; and a plurality of eye members as.- sociated with said hat member, and adapted for connection with such connecting members, at

least oneof said eye members being so dimenhat member whereby the circumferential sizeof such'head-band may be varied while rotationbf said hat member relative to such head-band is Prevented.

1 HOWARD B. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,935,204 Dym Nov. 14, 1933 2,032,203 Dym Feb. 25, 1936 2,248,366 Lewis July 8, 1941 2,079,581 Whipple May 4, 193'? 1,885,745 Malcom Nov. 1, 1932 

